Dual mode panel

ABSTRACT

A dual mode alarm control panel includes a sensing arrangement for determining conditions of the environment in which the panel is installed. The results of the environmental assessment are used to determine an operating mode of the panel. In a first mode the panel is fully functional, and in a second mode the functions of the panel are restricted. This process assists in operating alarm control panels in an environment corresponding to the assumed design environment. In this way, non-compliance or operating alarm panels in unsuitable environments is reduced or avoided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to international applicationPCT/CA99/01220 filed Dec. 23, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to alarm control panels used in a securitysystem, and in particular, relates to a panel which senses certainenvironmental conditions to determine which of two different modes itshould operate in.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alarm control panels are used to receive inputs from various sensors aswell as inputs from a keypad and the panel monitors these varioussignals and produces an alarm when certain events have been detected.The alarm panel also includes the capability to communicate with aremote monitoring station, typically by means of a telephone company toreport an alarm event or merely to check-in with the remote monitoringstation. As part of the security protocol, the remote monitoring stationmay contact the alarm panel from time to time to seek informationtherefrom.

The security system is designed to receive power from the power supplyof the premise and it is also designed to be connected to the telephonesystem. It is important that the control panel meets the standard setfor equipment to be connected to the telephone system. This standardvaries from country to country and a product which does not comply oftengoes undetected until such time as the control panel disrupts the normaloperation of the telephone system. There is some built in control ascommercial installers only use appropriate equipment and often provideservice or are associated with the monitoring service. Therefore,non-complying equipment is not a significant problem for authorizedinstallation of a security system, however, problems can occur during areinstallation or an installation carried out by a non-commercialinstaller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a alarm control panel for processing signals from sensors and from akeypad and reporting of certain sense conditions to a monitoringstation, the alarm control panel includes means for analyzing anelectrical feed provided to the alarm control panel. The analysis of theelectrical feed includes comparing an electrical feed provided to thepanel to a pre-determined stored value. The alarm control panel operatesin a first mode based on a match between the analyzed electrical signaland the stored value, and operates in a second mode when the analyzedelectrical feed and the stored value do not match. The alarm controlpanel, in the first mode, is fully functional and the panel in thesecond mode has the panel functions restricted.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the electrical feed isa power feed provided to the security panel.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the electrical feed is atelecommunication feed provided to the alarm panel.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, when the alarmcontrol panel operates in the second mode, the alarm control panel isdisconnected from a telecommunication port used in the first mode forcommunication transmissions with a monitoring station.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the alarm controlpanel operates such that a means for analyzing the electrical feed isactivated each time the alarm control panel is connected to a supplypower source.

According to another aspect of the invention, the analyzed electricalfeed is frequency analyzed and a stored value is a frequency value. Animproved alarm control panel, according to the present invention,processes a signal from sensors and a keypad and reports certain sensedconditions to a monitoring station. The alarm control panel includesmeans for analyzing a telecommunication signal associated with atelecommunication port of the panel which is to be connected to a publictelecommunication system. The panel compares the analyzed electricaltelecommunication signal to a standard, and based on the comparison,determines the approximate geographic location of the security panel.The alarm control panel operates in a first mode based on a matchbetween the determined approximate geographic location and the standard,and operates in a second mode when the determined approximate locationand this standard do not match. The alarm control panel in the firstmode is in a full function mode and the panel in the second mode haslimited functionality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a security system in communication with aremote monitoring station;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing additional details of the alarm controlpanel; and

FIG. 3 is a logic flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The security system 2 includes a plurality of sensors 4 connected to analarm control panel 6 which also interacts with the keypad 8. Thesensors and keypad can be hard wired to the alarm control panel, or caninclude a wireless connection, or combinations thereof. The alarmcontrol panel 6 also includes a communication port 10 used to connectthe alarm control panel 6 to a public switched telephone systemindicated by the TELCO 12. In this way, the alarm control panel cancommunicate with the remote monitoring station 14 or the remotemonitoring station 14 can initiate communication and query the alarmcontrol panel. The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is conventional.

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing certain additional embodiments of thealarm control panel 6. This panel includes a main processing controller20, used by the panel to process the signals from the sensors and fromthe keypad. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this main processor isinitially programmed by the instruction set associated with mode 1, orthe instruction set associated with mode 2.

When the alarm control panel is initially connected to the power source,indicated by outlet 30, the power is fed to an environmental sensor 26which senses conditions of the power and/or communication environment ofthe installation location. This environmental sensor 26 analyzes thepowering signal by means of a signal processing arrangement 24. Thesignal processing arrangement extracts certain key data from thepowering signal and feeds the output to the comparator 22. Thecomparator 22 compares the detected signal to a stored signal maintainedin the non-volatile memory 28. This allows the logic arrangement 22 toprovide an input to the main processing controller 20 to operate in mode1, if a match is obtained between the stored signal and the detectedsignal, or to operate in mode 2 if there is not a match.

Mode 1 is a full function mode and allows the alarm panel to functionwith any or all of the various features thereof. Mode 2 is a restrictedfunctionality mode which may allow limited functionality varying frommerely powering up and providing a message that the environment of thepanel is inappropriate, to a state similar to full functionality butwith an ongoing error message, or other restricted functionality. Forexample, it may be desirable to allow the alarm panel to operate as astand-alone security system and to disable the communication port 10.

The logic diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates the steps of sampling the powersupply during initial start-up of the alarm panel and subsequentprocessing. The sensed signal is compared to a standard to determinewhether the signal has a frequency of 60 Hz. If this comparison confirmsthe frequency of 60 Hz, then the alarm panel operates in mode 1. If thecomparison indicates that the frequency is not 60 Hz, it operates inmode 2. Mode 1 programs the alarm control panel in one manner and mode 2programs the control panel in a restricted manner.

It is also possible to sample the signal provided to thetelecommunication port and to test this signal whenever the alarm panelis connected to this supply. Certain telephone systems operate in adifferent manner and provide a different stand-by voltage and adifferent voltage when the device goes off-hook. An analysis of thesesignals can determine whether the alarm control panel is appropriate tointeract with the connected telephone system.

The alarm control panel has been described where the environment ischecked by analyzing a power signal or a communication signal. Thecontrol panel could also analyze both these signals. A furtherpossibility is for the alarm panel to call out on initial installationto a 800 number and caller ID capability could provide locationinformation from the area code. This can then be used to determinewhether mode 1 or mode 2 should be used.

It is also practical for the device to evaluate the signals to recognizea particular environment which is not suitable and when detected thepanel does not operate or operates in a restricted mode. This feature isparticularly appropriate if the manufacturer knows of certain problemterritories or countries and includes sensing procedures to specificallyidentify these environments. The combination of power supplycharacteristics and communication characteristics typically uniquelyidentifies an area and even if it is not a unique identification, thepanel would be restricted for all areas having these characteristics.

Therefor the panel can include environmental sensing for determinationof an environment which meets certain criteria and/or an environmentwhich is not suitable.

As one example, the power supply in Australia is 220 volts at 50 Hz. Thedial tone frequency in Australia is 425 Hz +20% and the busy tone is 400Hz. These parameters or other parameters can be used to distinguish fromother environments for example Canada. In Canada the power supply is 120volts at 60 Hz. The dial tone is 350 Hz plus 440 Hz and the busy tone is480 Hz plus 620 Hz.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. In an alarm controlpanel for processing signals from sensors and from a key pad andreporting of certain sensed conditions to a monitoring station, saidalarm control panel including means for analyzing an electrical feedprovided to said alarm control panel on a continuous basis and isindicative of the operating environment of the alarm panel, andcomparing said analyzed electrical feed to a predetermined stored value;said alarm control panel operating in a first mode based on a matchbetween said analyzed electrical feed and said stored value andoperating in a second mode when said analyzed electrical feed and saidstored value do not match, said alarm control panel in said first modebeing in a full function mode and said panel in said second modefunctioning in a restricted mode and wherein said electrical feed isseparate and distinct from said signals from said sensors and keypad. 2.In a alarm control panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electricalfeed is a power feed provided to said alarm control panel.
 3. In a alarmcontrol panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical feed is atelecommunication feed provided to said alarm control panel.
 4. In aalarm control panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panel whenoperating in said second mode is disconnected from a telecommunicationport used in said first mode for communication with a monitoringstation.
 5. In a alarm control panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for analyzing an electrical feed is activated each time said panelis connected to a supply power source.
 6. In a alarm control panel asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said analyzed electrical feed is frequencyanalyzed and said stored value is a frequency value.
 7. In a alarmcontrol panel as claimed in claim 6 wherein said stored frequency valuecorresponds to 60 Hz.
 8. In a alarm control panel as claimed in claim 3wherein said predetermined value corresponds to a voltage value.
 9. In aalarm control panel for processing signals from sensors and a key padand reporting of certain sensed conditions to a monitoring station, saidalarm control panel including means for analyzing a telecommunicationsignal associated with a telecommunication port of said panel which isconnected to a public telecommunication system to determine theapproximate geographic location information of said alarm control paneland comparing said approximate geographic location with a predeterminedstandard stored in memory of said alarm control panel, said alarmcontrol panel operating in a first mode based on a match between saiddetermined approximate geographic location and said standard, andoperating in a second mode when said determined approximate location andsaid standard do not match, said alarm control panel in said first modebeing in a full function mode and said panel in said second mode havinglimited functionality.
 10. In an alarm control panel for processingsignals from sensors and from a key pad and reporting of certain sensedconditions to a monitoring station, said alarm control panel includingmeans for analyzing an electrical power feed provided to said alarmcontrol panel and comparing said analyzed electrical power feed to atleast one predetermined stored value, said alarm control panel operatingin a first mode or a second mode based on a comparison between saidanalyzed electrical power feed and said at least one stored value, saidalarm control panel in said first mode being in a full function mode andsaid panel in said second mode functioning in a restricted mode.
 11. Inan alarm panel as claimed in claim 10 wherein said at least one storedvalue includes stored values indicating a specific environment and whendetected said alarm panel functions in a restricted mode.
 12. In analarm panel as claimed in claim 11 wherein said restricted mode is a nonoperating mode.